Gluing control means



July 31, 1962 H. w. WILSON GLUING CONTROL MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1957 July 31, 1962 H. w. WILSON GLUING CONTROL MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1957 INVENTOR. wavy Mam o zl AT/V/flZY/ July 31, 1962 H. w. WILSON GLUING CONTROL MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1957 W ma W MW W E v s y m M a w \M-H\\Q\ MQ SR W H I H July 31, 1962 Filed May 24, 1957 H. W. WILSON GLUING CONTROL MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States atent thee 3,046,935 QLUING CONTROL MEANS Harry W. Wilson, Millhrae, Calif, assignor to S & S Corrugated Paper Machinery Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 24, 1957, Ser. No. 661,339 11 Claims. (Cl. 118-7) This application relates to the glue applying section of automatic corrugating machines and paper box machinery and more particularly to means for automatically controlling the relative positions of the gluing and doctor rolls so that the proper amount of glue is applied to the corrugated sheet and paper box for varying speeds of the automatic machinery.

In the manufacture of paper or cardboard boxes, subsequent to the preliminary operations of cutting, scoring, creasing and folding the box blanks, it is necessary to glue predetermined parts of the blanks together to complete the box or carton. For example, in forming an open ended, generally rectangular sleeve like box, an elongated blank is initially formed With three transverse spaced fold lines subdividing the blank into four sections. One end adjacent section of the blank is formed with an integral flap or the like which, when the blank is folded into the sleeve like configuration, is secured to a marginal portion of the other end adjacent section. When folded and glued, the transverse fold lines define three of the meeting edges for the walls ofthe box, while the fourth meeting edge is provided at the marginal edges of the blank joined together by the flap.

Difficulty has been encountered in applying glue or adhesive to the flap or in the alternative to limited areas of the blank proper within the outline of the flap when in the folded formation. In either eventuality, there is a risk of transferring or smearing of the adhesive to portions of the blank proper which are to remain free from the adhesive. This results in a much lower yield of properly processed blanks, and additionally, the uncontrolled spreading of the adhesive material often causes fouling of the automatic mechanisms of the processing equipment. Y

This difliculty is caused in large measure by the unequal glue application given to blanks traveling through the automatic machinery at different rates of speed. That is, the speed of the automatic machinery may be intentionally varied to adjust for the rate at which the folded and glued blanks are being accepted by other machines, such as stacking, which perform subsequent operations on the blanks. When the automatic machinery is functioning at slow speed a given portion of the gluing roll,

whose speed of rotation is geared to the speed of the,

automatic machinery, is immersed in the glue solution for a longer time and, therefore, accumulates a greater amount of glue than under high speedoperation. The

undesirable condition is compounded since the gluing roll also remains in contact with the blank for a longer time thereby permitting the transfer of an excessive amount of glue to the blank causing glue to spread beyond the intended limited areas to produce a probable reject.

Similar problems are encountered in single facer and double backer corrugating machines as the liner is being applied to the corrugated sheet. That is, if an excessive amount of glue is applied the combination of corrugated sheet andjliner will be ejected from the machine before the glue has set. This permits relative movement be tween the corrugated sheet and liner and the production of a imperfect sheet. Should the glue film be too thin the bond between the corrugated sheet andliner will be weak also resulting in an imperfect sheet. 7

The instant invention solves the problems heretofore recited by removing more glue from the gluing roll, before it contacts the box blank or corrugated sheet during low speed operation than during high speed operation. This is accomplished by varying the position of the doctor roll relative to the gluing roll as a function of the speed of operation of the automatic machinery. As the automatic machinery operates at more reduced speeds the doctor roll moves closer to the gluing roll thereby spreading the adhesive to form a thin film on the gluing roll. Conversely, as the automatic machinery is operated at higher speeds the doctor roll moves further from the gluing roll thereby permitting a larger percentage of the adhesive to remain and spreading a thicker film of glue on the periphery of the gluing roll. I

The gluing roll is positively rotated through a driving connection which is in some manner connected to the automatic machinery driving means so that the gluing roller speed increases and decreases directly with the speed of the blank being fed through the machinery. The gluing roll communicates with a glue solution contained in a glue pan, either by being partially submerged in the glue or else by means of transfer rolls interposed between the gluing roll and theglue solution. Positioned adjacent to the gluing roll and spaced therefrom is a doctor means which distributes the glue uniformly over the surface of the gluing roll to form a thin film thereon and at the same time removes excess glue.

The doctor means preferably comprises a doctor roll which may be mounted for rotation on the short arm of a crank. The doctor roll may be positively driven or be freely mounted depending on the specific glue being used.

For some applications the doctor roll may be replaced by a doctor blade whose edge is spaced from the surface of the gluing roll.

In a first embodiment of this invention the long arm of the crank is secured to a speed sensing means which operates on a centrifugal principle. As the speed of the automatic machinery increases the shaft of the sensing:

means rotates at a faster rate moving a block, to which the long arm is. connected in a direction such that the doctor means is spaced further from the surface of thecreased and the doctor means will be moved further from the gluing roll than under low speed operation.

A third embodiment of this invention employs a synchro system and cam arrangement as the translation in the position of the doctor means relative to the gluing.

means which varies the spacing between the doctor and gluing rollers as a direct function of the speed of the' automatic machinery.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a gluing device wherein the thickness of the adhesive film on the gluing roll is varied in directpropor tion to the speed of rotation of the gluing roll.

, Another object is to provide a gluing device wherein" the position of the doctor means is relative to the gluing roll and is controlled by'means of a synchro and a cam arrangement.

- Still another object is to provide a gluing device where:

roll is controlled 'by means of a centrifugal device;

A further object is to provide a gluing device wherein the position of thedoctor means relative to the gluing roll is controlled by means of a pressure sensitive means.

A still further object is to provide an automatic box crowns of the corrugated. sheet is controlled for varying speeds of the Vcorrugating machine.

These, as well :asother objects of this inventron will become apparent after reading the following description of-the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an automatic folding machine wherein the novelgluing device of this inventionis incorporated.

' 7 FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of an embodiment of this used with many types of automatic folding machines well known in the paper and cardboard boxart aswell as fries the folded blank through the rollers 4310f the straight eningsection 44 and then to asubsequent machine such:

invention utilizing a centrifugal device to translate the folding machine speed into motionof the doctor'roll.

In FIGUREZ the folding machine is operating at an extremely slow speed. 7

FIGURE 3 is a section through line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of thearrows 3-3.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the folding machine now operating at a high speed.

I FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a'second embodiment of this invention utilizing a servo system and a cam arrangernent to control the position of the doctor means.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of this invention utilizing a pressure actuated piston to control the position of the doctor means. FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of a corrugating machine wherein any of the embodiments of my invention may be incorporated to control the adhesive film thickness applied to the corrugated sheet.

The automatic fol-ding machine illustrated in'FIGURE 1 is included as an example of the environment in which the gluing device 100 of this invention may be operated. 'It is to 'be understood that the gluing'device 100may be other automatic machinery which requires-the placement of an adhesive film on a defined surface area. a

A stack of blanks 20 is placed on the bed 22 of the stacking'section 21'of the automatic folding machine between the rear gauges 23 and front gauges 25. The bottom blank in the stack is fed towards the right by the feed slats 27 through a space .(not shown) below the front g'auges 25 and is pushed between upper feed roller 30 and a loweiflfeed rollertnot shown) which engage the hlank and move it forward to another set of upper ried on shaft 32.

Driving power is supplied to shaft 32 from variable speed drive unit 47 by chain 46 which mates with sprocket d r V i The operation of folding machine 10 is completely de-,

scribed in copending application Serial No. 509,329, filed May 18, 1955, now U.S. Patent No. 2,898,819, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 2 through 4, the periphery 103 of gluing roll 101 is partially submerged in glue'bath 104 confined in pan 105. Doctor roll 106 is rotatably mounted inside of pan on pin 107 at one end of the short arm 108 of a crank which includes a long arm 109 positioned outside of pan 105. Short arm 108 and long mm 109 are keyed to crank shaft 110 which passes through the side 1110f pan 105 I V and is journalled in sealed bearing 112.

Drive shaft 32 passes through pan 105 and is journalled in sealed bearings 113, 114. Sprocket wheel is mounted on drive shaft 32 outside of pan 105 and is connected by means of chain 116 to sprocket 'wheel 117 on horizontal shaft 118 which has a bevel gear 119 mounted thereon. Bevel gear 119 mates withand drives bevel gear 120 which in turn rotates vertical shaft having centrifugal unit 122 keyed thereto;

Centrifugal unit 122 comprises blocks 124, key

to vertical shaft 121 for rotation therewith. Block 124 is free to float axially along shaft 121 while block ,125'

is in fixed axial relationship with respect/to shaft 121. Blocks 124, 125 are operatively connected by means of a plurality of scissor linkages each comprising a first link 126 pivotally secured to block 125 at 127 and a second link 128pivotally secured to block 124 at 129. The. links 126, 1 28 are pivotally connected at pin 130 which also y 4 carries weighted member 131.

- End 133 of Shaft 132 is secured to block 124 b fretainers 134, 135 to move vertically withblock 124 and at the same time not be rotated thereby. End 136 of shaft 132 is flattened and pivotally secured to an end of long arm 109 at pinz137.

Adjusting screw- 138 is threaded through frame member 142 and abuts long arm 109- to set the at rest, or minimum, thickness of space 'fbet-ween the gluing roll 101 and doctor roll 106 as seen in FIGURE 2. a

'Driveshaft 32 is connected to the main drive 47 for: ,thejautomatic folding machine 10 so that the speed of rotation of shaft 32 is directly related to the speed of the machine 10. Therefore, the speed of gluing roll 101 a to the speed of 'the machine 10. V p

"As the speedof shaft 121,increases weighted members 131 are forced outward due to centrifugal force thereby causing links 126, 128 to be drawn "together in scissors" fashion. Since'block 125 is fixed, block 124 will be drawnupward carrying shaft 132 with it.-Sh -aft 132 a will in'turrr raise the free end of long arm 109 rotating 110 counterclockwisewith respectlto FIGURE '2 a 7 feed'rollers 31a, 31b-and a lower feedroll which is carwheel 33 mounted on one end of shaft 32 and sprocket wheel48 mounted on drive unit 47. Gluing roll 101 is V mounted: near the other end of shaft 32. A pressure roll 102 is positioned in the path of blank 2010 force the box flap against gluing roll 101. a

The blank 20 continues its forward moan until it hits a. stop (not shown) at whichtime the creases or scores on which the fold is totake place are in register with folding bars 39, 40. Folding bars39, 40 are actuated V to fold the blanks so that. the panels overlap slightly.

This means that one folding bar acts out of phase with :the other.

After folding, the blank 20 is conveyed forward by slat 4l, which is driven by chain 42, until the folded blank is grasped by a stripper (not shown)! The stripper caras a stackingdevice.

increases. and decreases with the speed of machine .10.

The operative connection between shaft 32 andvertical shaft 121' also relates to the'speed of shaft 121 shaft thereby moving the free end of short arm 108 to the. left (as in FIGURE 4) to increase the width of space 140 between the doctor 106 and gluing rollers 101 which will increase the thickness of the adhesive film availablefor.

transfer to blank 20.

7 'A second embodiment of this invention utilizes a servo V a system and cam 151 to control the position ofd' octor blade 152 relative to j gluing .roll 101. Sprocket wheel 153', secured to shaft 154 of servo motor '155, is driveniby chain 156 which is inturn driven by sprocket wheel 157 I keyed to the control handle 158 of the rheostat 159 which.

controls the speed of the main drive motor or variable speed drive unit 47 of the automatic folding machine 10. V The angular position of shaft 154 is transmit-ted to servo follower 161 through leads 160, so that shaft+162 assume a position corresponding to the position of shaft Y 154.- in turn willposition an appropriately shaped cam '15. Roller 163 is secured to long arm'164 at pin and is urged into engagement with cam 151 by tension spring 169 secured to long arm 164.

directly V i Long arm 164 is joined at shaft 166 with short arm 165 to format lever or crank. Doctor blade 152 is mounted on the free end of short crank arm 165 so that movement of the follower roller 163 to the right at high speed operation will move doctor blade 152 to the left to increase the thickness of the space 171 between the doctor blade 152 and gluing roller 101. Adjusting screw 167 threaded through frame member 168 sets the minimum thickness of space 171.

A third embodiment of this invention, illustrated in FIGURE 6, is identical to that illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 4 from the long arm 109 to the doctor roll 106. Hence, the same numbers have been used to identify identical components.

. Link 200 is secured between pill 137 and piston 201 which is disposed in cylinder 202 and closely fitted thereto. The position of piston 201 is regulated by the fluid pressure present in cylinder 202 which overcomes the biasing force of compression spring 203 acting on long arm 109. a

The fluid for cylinder 202 is supplied through line 205 from reservoir 204 which is fed by a compressor (not shown). A pressure regulator 206 is fitted in line 205 to control the fluid pressure in cylinder .202. Sprocket wheel 207 is keyed to regulator shaft 208. The angular position of shaft 208 controls the pressure setting of pressure regulator 206. Chain 209 connects sprocket wheel 207 to sprocket wheel 210 which iskeyed to control handle 211 of rheostat 212 which controls the speed of drive unit 47 hence the speed of automatic folding machine 10.

Thus, when the control handle 211 is moved to change the speed of operation of folding machine 10, the motion will be transmitted to change the setting of pressure regulator 206. This will change the pressure in cylinder 202 thereby changing the position of piston 201 which causes a corresponding change in possiti'on of crank 108, 109 thereby changing the thickness of space 140 which will result in a changing thickness of the adhesive film on the means and gluing roll as a direct function of the speed of the automatic machinery.

It is readily apparent that by a judicious selection of components the thickness of'the adhesive film transferred from the gluing roll 101 to the box blank 20 may be kept at a constant despite varying speeds of operation of the automatic folding machine 10. However, for some appli cations relative sizes of the components may be chosen to provide a thicker film at slow speeds than at fast speeds. Even in the latter applications this invention will assure a controlled film thickness with the spacing between the doctor means and gluingroll varying as a direct function of the operational speed of the automatic machine.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 7, machine 310 is for the manufacture of single faced corrugated paper :board C which may be the final product or may be delivered to a further machine for applying a second face. The

sheet S to'be corrugated is passed under a tensioning roller 311 and into a straw or sheet trimming assembly 312 including a trimmer roll 314 and a trimming head 316 having a cutting roller 318. Thereupon the sheet S is passed under and around an idler roller 320 to a sheet moistener assembly 322. The sheet moistener assembly embodies a steaming roll 324 including a steam chest 326 having a segmental cutout 328 over which the sheet S passes. The steam chest 326 is supplied with steam at a proper temperature whereby as the sheet S passes over the steam roll 324 it is preheated and pre pared for the corrugating operation. After passing over 6 r the steam roll 324, the sheet S i's fed through a guide- Way 328a including a plate 330 and a shield332 whereupon the sheet is passed over .a suitable feed roller 324' positioned above the corrugating unit generally designated by numeral 336. 4

The corrugating unit 336 includes a pair of intermeshing corrugating rollers 338, 340 each of which has its external peripheral surface provided with flutes which when in engagement along a line of intermeshing, impart corrugations to the sheet S passing therethrough. The corrugating roller 338 is mounted on suitable stationary bearings and is preferably supported for adjustment toward and away from the corrugating roller 340 and for 'example "by means of a pivoted supporting bracket 342 and an adjusting coupling .344 operated from a hand wheel 346 accessible exteriorly of the machine. Suitable provision may likewise be made for adjusting the corrugating rollers 338, 340 axially relative to each other. In many applications the axial adjustment of the rollers may be essential to assure that the corrugating rollers have their respective axes in'perfect parallelism and with the teeth in exact intermesh to thereby avoid cutting or crushing of the sheet 8' during high speed operation.

The facing sheet or liner L is fed toward the corrugating roller 340 for assembly with the corrugated sheet S by suitable pre-heat rollers 348, 349 arranged oneabove the other. The liner L passes over these rollers prior to being extended about the liner applying or pressure roller 352 arranged in cooperating relation with the corrugating roller 340 along a line of tangency substantially coplanar with the line of intermesh and the respective axes of the rollers 338, 340, 352.

Below the corrugating roller 340 and along the feed path prior'to the liner applying roller 352 is a silicate or adhesive transfer or gluing roller 101, fed with adhesive from pan 104', with provision being made forithe application. of a uniform adhesive coating by means of doctoring roller 106'. The gluing roller applies the adhesive to the crowns of thecorrugated sheet as it passes from the line of intermesh between the corrugated rollers 338, 340 and the line of tangency of the corrugating roller 340 and the linerapplying roller 352.

Gluing roller 101', corrugating rollers 338, 340, liner applying roller 352 and the other. -feed rollers of automatic corrugating machine 310 are synchronously driven from a single variable, speed drive (not shown) by means of appropriate gearing and chains.

Gluing roller 101 and doctoring roller 106' are both elongated to the Width of corrugated sheet S. The thicle ness of the adhesive coating is determined by the spacing between the gluing roller 101 and doctoring roller 106, which are mounted and operatively connected through spacing control means 402 and 401 in a manner substantially the same as that of gluing roller 101 and doctor roller 106' of. the-embodiments of FIGURES 2 through 6. In this manner the adhesive coating on gluing roller 101' is controlled as a function of the speed of corrugating machine 310 to apply a controlled film of adhesive to the crowns of corrugated sheet S thereby assuring corrugated board of high strength and uniform quali y- 1 As is apparent to those skilled in the art, the described arrangement is capable of corrugating the sheet S and adhesively securingto one face of the corrugated sheet a liner L, the resultant product being accessible beyond the corrugating rollers 340 and the liner applying roller 352 for further processing as and :for example by providing a liner on the corrugated face opposite the liner L, or for cutting into appropriate lengths.

It should also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the doctor means 106 and 152 need not be pivoted about points 110 and 166 respectively, in order to vary the spacing between the gluing roll 101 and the doctor means 106, 152. Instead doctor means '106, 152 could readily be mounted so as to move in a linear path rather than the arcuate paths illustrated.

- i In the foregoing, this invention hasrbeen described only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of this invention within the scope of the description here-,

tor means; said spacing means constructed to varythe spacing between said doctor means and said gluing roll as a function of the rotational speed of said gluing roll.

2. The gluing device as set forth in claim '1 in which the doctor means comprises a roll having a rotational axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said gluing roll. 7

, 3; The gluing device as set forth in claim 1 in which the doctor means comprises a blade having an edge parallel to the peripheral surface of. said gluing roll.

a V 4. The gluing device as set forth in claim 1 also including adjustable stop means operatively connected to the doctor means to establish theminimum spacing between the doctor means and the gluing roll.

'5. A gluing device comprising a rotatably mounted gluing roll, a doctor mean and a spacing means; said doctor means being positionedin a closely spaced relationship with respect to said gluing roll; said spacing means including a crank and a pressure responsive means operatively connected to a first end of said crank; said doctor means being mounted on a second end of said crank;

said pressure responsive means being constructed and operatively connected to said gluing roll whereby the spacing between said gluing roll through said crank and said doctor means will vary as a direct function of the rotational. speed of said gluing roll. r

6 A gluing device comprising a rotatably mounted I gluing roll; a doctor-means and aspacing means; said doctor means being positioned in a closely spaced relationship with respectto said gluing -roll; said spacing means including a crank means and a centrifugal means operatively connected; to said crank means; said doctor a means also being operatively connected to said crank vmeans; said centrifugal means being constructed and,

operatively connected to said gluing roll through said crank means whereby the spacing between said gluing roll 1 and said doctor means will vary as a function of the rotational speed of said gluing roll.

7. A gluing device comprising a rotatably mounted" gluing roll, a doctor means and a spacing means; said doctor means being positioned'in a closely spaced relation-V ship with respect to said gluing rolls; said spacing means including a crank and a servo means operatively connected to a first end of said crank; said servo means having an input and an output; said doctor means being mounted on 'a second end of said crank; means operatively con necting said servo means to said-gluing roll in a manner whereby said servo mean input is indicative of said gluing roll speed and said servo means output is effective to position said crank and thereby vary the spacing between said gluing roll and said doctor means as a direct function of the rotational speed of said gluing roll.

8 8. The gluing device as set forth in claim 7 also including a camoperatively connectedat the output of said servo means to be positioned thereby and a follower wheel secured to the first end of the crank; biasing meansurging said follower wheel toward said camwhereby said crank assumes a position dictated by the position of said,

cam. V e l V 9. A gluing device comprising a rotatably mounted gluing roll; a doctor means, and a spacing means; said doctor means being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said gluing roll; said doctor means being positioned in closely spaced relationship to said gluing roll; said spacing means being operatively connected to both said gluing roll and said doctor means; said spacing means being constructed to vary the spacing between said doctor means and said gluing roll as a direct function of the rotational speed of said gluing roll.

10. An automatic gluing machine for transforming flat box blanksinto folded boxes; said machine including a blank conveyor means, a variable speed drive and a gluing device; said gluing device comprising a gluing roll, a doctor means, and a spacing means; said gluing roll being rotatably mounted in the path ,of said box blanks; said doctor means being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of rotatioh of said gluing roll; said 7 doctor means being positioned'in closely spaced relation-' ship tosaid gluing roll; said blank conveyor means and said gluing rol-l being operatively connected to said variable speed drive so that the rotational speed of said gluing roll varies directly with the rate of speed at which saidblanks are being fed through said machine;said spacing means being operatively connected to both said variable speed drive and said doctor means; said spacing means be ing constructed to vary the spacing between said gluing roll and said doctor means as a direct function of the rota- I tional speed ofsaid-gluing roll.

11. In an automatic machine for applying at least-one liner sheet to a corrugated sheet; said machine including a variable speed drive and a gluing device; said gluing device comprising a gluing roll, a doctor means and a spacing means; said gluing means being rotatably. mounted in t the path of the corrugated sheet soas to contact the on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said gluing: 7 roll; said doctor means being positioned in closely spaced relationship to said gluing roll; said gluing roll being; operatively connected to said variable speed drive so I that the rotational speed of said gluing roll varies directly with the rate of speed at which said sheetsfare" passing through said automatic machine; said spacing means he crowns thereof; said 'doctor means being pivotally mounted ing operatively connected to both said variable speed drive and ,said doctor means; said spacing meansibeing constructed to vary the spacing between said gluing roll and said doctor'means as a direct function of the rotational speed of said gluing roll. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,8-11 7 1 2,102,984 Von Hofe Dec. 21; 1937 2,161,187 Mueller June 6, 1939' 2,830,555

Anderson Oct. -1, 1929,

Barrett 1 Apr. 15, 19 5s 

